Talking Shop: Sir Michael Caine

Sir Michael says he only takes roles now if they are 'an offer I can't refuse'

Sir Michael Caine, 76, has been in the film business for more than 40 years and, with more than 100 films to his name, he has become one of Britain's best loved actors.

He's been the dashing boyfriend, soldier, doctor and gangster but his latest character, Harry Brown, is a vigilante pensioner who turns on the thugs who plague the London estate he lives on.

It is being hailed as his most challenging and impressive performance to date but, as he explains, it may be one of his last.

Why do this film?

Great script and great part - I really liked the director Daniel Barber too - he is such a good director.

It wasn't written about London. It was written about Newcastle, but I really believed it when I saw the script, although it isn't really everyone's cup of tea, it is pretty violent but it needs to be to tell the story.

Was it a challenging role to play?

The difficulty with the role was to look like a vigilante rather than a killer - but it was really interesting to portray and certainly different from other roles I have played.

Do you think there are enough good roles for older actors?

For a long time I was a film star playing alongside all these beautiful women and now that I am older I am more of a movie 'actor' - and the parts just seem to get better, you win Academy Awards! I have been having an incredible time with some really great parts.

Do you think you will ever retire from acting?

I have a choice, I am not trying to make a living, and I sit there until the right script comes along. It has to be what I call an offer I can't refuse.

I finished Harry Brown in March and I haven't got another script lined up. I haven't seen one since reading Harry Brown and what will happen is that if one doesn't come along I will be retired without any announcement, and like an old soldier which I am, I will just fade away.

Before you leave acting though, would you like just one more Oscar or Bafta?

You always like them but you never think about them and in my house we never talk about it, we call it the O word!

Actors are very superstitious because we are only here because we had luck, you have to be very lucky to have an Oscar, so we just call it the O word, that's it.

Harry Brown is on general release.

The screenplay was written by Gary Young from South Tyneside.

Sir Michael Caine was talking to BBC News entertainment reporter Sophie van Brugen